Breakfast 9.00. Drove to Llyswen and bought skirt and heavy jumper – to be sent to Australia.

Cattle moving through the main street of Llyswen Wells

Onto Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre. A special centre for the use of visitors – cafeteria, picnic facilities, showers, rest centre. Very well set up with a wonderful view of the Beacons in the distance. Beacons – an unusual outcrop of red sandstone pushed up many years ago.

To Merthyr and to Abergavenny where [we] tried to find Llangua where Marion’s cousin lived. Inquired at bus depot – talked with the mechanic. Place was 11 miles out on the Hereford border. Passed through the place and came back. Went up a road for miles – came back – the place Elsie asked at turned out to be where Paddy and Tony Wollan lived. (5.00pm).

Stayed for tea. Tony had had a throat operation and has his larynx removed (12 months ago). His partner had had open heart surgery. Both families live in very large house (300 years old in parts) that used to be coach house. – 7 bedrooms upstairs. Dining and a couple of lounge rooms. Paddy showed us the large sideboard (£13) on a solid stone floor. The cellar and bar (of old inn) were below in another room down below they have a full size billiard table.

To Carnarvon Castle. The walls very impressive but much restoration work has been done. In one tower an exhibition of the development. Built in time of Edward I between 1280 and 1320s. The city wall completed in 4 years.

Inside Carnarvon Castle

The dias where Charles was installed as Prince of Wales

Another tower has the story of the crowning of Charles as Prince of Wales. Special chairs sold as souvenirs – slate dias, slate chairs for the crowning.

Heaviest rain we have driven through. Rolling country to Skipton. Some climbing through the Yorkshire Dales.

Harrogate – a very large city. Difficulty in finding the Tourist Info Centre so that we could find Grove Road for Elsie to visit her aunt in Convalescent home. Molly (94) very excited to show us her room and the home. Uses stick but manages 2 flights of stairs quite well. Took a couple of photos.

Molly

To York and looked at the cathedral. Very light sandstone. Visited the undercroft where they put cement foundation to support one of the towers that was moving. Stainless steel pins 63ft long go through the concrete. Now a museum as they uncovered Roman foundations.

Gone about 4 miles when we discovered we had left this book, maps and papers in the bedroom.

Returned and joined a traffic queue of about 3/4 mile into Stirling. Picked up the motorway and fast travelled to Gretna Green. Bought some jumpers £75 each.

By passed Carlisle and headed for the Lakes District. Lake, bare hills with sparse trees. Trees along edges of lakes. Suddenly came upon Keswick a large bustling tourist town. Cars everywhere. Difficult to park. Had our rolls in a national park wooded area near the lake.

At Windermere walked a little of the town and then drove down to the wharf area. People everywhere walking the streets. Many people coming off and around the area where the excursion boats leave.

Pretty drive through the tree lined roads to Kendall and to Kirkby Lonsdale – a neat little town – narrow streets and a square and lots of eating places. Stayed with Mrs Bradshaw. The Parko’s and Batto’s had left there that morning. They had come back and had 2 nights.

Visited Stirling Castle. All the Scottish monarchs have been crowned here. In very good order much restoration work going on. Castle overlooks the whole Forth Valley and used to control all movement to the north. Great Hall used as military barracks for over 300 yearsby the Argyle and Sunderland units. All interior additions are being taken out and the place restored. The original type windows being done in stone. Baptism Hall, Banquet Hall now museum for the silver of the Scottish units. Large silver centre piece to commemorate the Scots in the South African war and other places they have served. The Royal apartments and some of the circular wooden carvings – known as the Stirling Heads that used to decorate the ceilings.

Out to Callander. Lunch overlooking a small river. Browsed through the shops looking for bargain sweaters.

Elsie and the fire brooms

View near the Trossachs

Out to the Trossachs – large rugged mountains that overlook Loch Venacher and up to Loch Katrine – the dam for Edinburgh’s water supply. Lookout on hill top overlooking the Trossachs. Photo of Elsie and the fire-brooms.

Mrs Stirling talked on so we had a late night before our usual supper.

Breakfast 9. Drove round to find way to Edinburgh Castle. Had lunch below the walls. Walked up and had a guided tour to show main features. 9 gates originally to protect entrance. Crown sceptre and orb on display in special secured room.

Edinburgh Castle

Walked down the Royal Mile with many of the tourist shops open. Came past Waverley Station. Took sightseeing bus – the sea, the city, the hills. Down to Portobello area out to foothills of the Pentland Hills and into city. Very rough ride in the double decker.